A TOWN council has joined the campaign to save services at Bishop Auckland General Hospital by going straight to the top.

Spennymoor Town Council has contacted the Government's health chief and the hospital's boss for an assurance that the hospital has a future.

In a letter to Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt, and John Saxby, chief executive of County Durham and Darlington Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, the council also calls for better consultation with the public and local politicians.

Town clerk Pauline Wilson said: "People are contacting us really concerned about the future of the hospital, and we feel they should be given some clear answers."

The council said people were also concerned about the future of the maternity unit, which has been midwife-led since 2004.

A hospital spokesman said that the trust had no plans to close the maternity ward, and any such changes would require full public consultation.

He added the trust remains fully committed to the hospital and that Mr Saxby will respond to the town council's letter.

Ms Hewitt's office said it has been assured there will be no impact on access or the standard of patient care.